With the aim of becoming a “mobility player of tomorrow”, Riese & Müller (A6-300) is demonstrating its new digital strategy at Eurobike. Organized around the theme of “Rider Centric Experience” (RX), GM Dr. Sandra Wolf says the three-pronged strategy “places the rider and his needs at the center of development.”
The first element of RX is a collaboration with connected e-bike expert Cobi.bike. Second is a tie-up with IoT Ventures, starting with a chipset to bring narrowband IoT to the bicycle world. The third part is a new digital service portal, which links the rider more closely with his vehicle.
According to PR Manager Jörg Lange, the cooperation with Bosch subsidiary Cobi.bike (R&M exclusively uses Bosch drive systems) means the firm is “one of the first to develop customized modules for the Cobi.bike app and use the system across all models. The goal is to provide R&M riders with additional benefits through digital services.”
The partnership with IoT Ventures offers vehicle security features, but R&M is already thinking ahead: “The installation of a GPS-tracker isn’t just about theft protection. R&M customers receive a premium service package from communication with the police and insurers, to the replacement of the bike. An attractive insurance offer completes the service.” Wolf says “This RX feature is available as an option in the model year 2019 exclusively in the Nevo touring pedelec.
The third element of the new digital strategy is the service portal, which Wolf says offers “warranty registration and vehicle management, to manuals and instructions as well as service scheduling – everything is in one central location.” She believes both owners and IBDs benefit from this direct connection platform.
With this new digital strategy, R&M is preparing for the future and another round of expansion. “We want to continue our e-bike business expansion, especially in Europe,” said Wolf. “We are also seeing increasing business in Australia, New Zealand and USA.”